A regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) is expanding their reach to teachers and students as part of preparations for the opening of classes this school year 2020-2021 on Oct. 5.
The DepEd-Cagayan Valley (Region 2) is engaging local government units (LGUs) and media networks in expanding its capacity in their preparations for the opening of classes.
“The importance of the partnership we have done, especially with our local government, would not only be the financial support they have given us but of course also for the manpower especially in the distribution of our modules and guiding us in different protocols in relation of COVID-19,” said regional director Estela Cariño.
With the help of LGUs, Cariño said that they were able to conduct a dry-run from July 20 to Aug. 18. DepEd Region 2 was also able to identify areas of improvement in terms of implementing modular distance learning, including having a different module collection schedule for coastal and mainland schools.
DepEd Region 2 partnered with the local radio and television stations and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its “The Radio Program.” With these partnerships, DepEd Region 2 broadcast pre-recorded lessons for all grade levels to the DA Cagayan Valley educational radio station DZDA-FM 105.3 Radyo Pangkaunlaran. DepEd Region 2 also collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for teachers' training through DoST-Starbook.
In terms of printing of self-learning modules (SLMs), Cariño said that their region is already at an “advanced stage” for seven school division offices while the remaining two divisions were at the “progressing stage.”
“The region is on its peak when it comes to teacher training, orientation to parents, and observance of health and safety guidelines,” Cariño added.
Cariño noted that Region 2 SDOs “have also been continuously sharing resources and conducting technical assistance on preparation of class programs and learning management plans of public and private schools.”
Schools under DepEd Region 2, Cariño said, will also continuously give extensive orientation for parents in the distance learning approach. “Any problem experienced by the learner or the parents, as well as the community in relation to the implementation of Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), will be sent to our office so we can give technical assistance,” she said.